Runway excursions at PDK

[sonicyouth]

I was coming into PDK Thursday night just after they reopened 20L due to ANOTHER jet vacating the slippery runway (a Gulfstream III this time is what I was told.) I checked the NOTAMs earlier that day, and the runway had been closed for at least five hours, effectively shutting out most jet traffic to Atlanta's busiest satellite airport. It seems like there have been a lot of these incidents on the very same runway. Does anyone know exactly how many and if the airport will be taking any action to improve the runway. (regrooving or resurfacing - hydroplaning can be a serious problem. Especially when you have no reversing capability!)

 

[T-Gates]

I haven't flown out of PDK in awhile but I do remember 20L/2R getting pretty big puddles on it when it really rained. But I basically grew up out there and dont remember too many planes going off the runway.

 

[Citationkid]

Gulfstream III this time is what I was told.

Any one know what company? I've got a friend who flies a GIII out of there, just want to know if it was him.

 

[Mmmmmm Burritos]

Dunno what company, but it only went about 30-40 feet off the end of 2L. It was pretty crummy weather Thurs night and they shot the ILS with a 6-8kt tailwind. I heard that Magic Johnson was onboard too.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

a 6-8 knot tailwind huh?

would that make it 7??

Is there anything wrong with shooting an ILS with a 6-8 knot tailwind??

not ideal but certainly not unusual..

 

[chperplt]

Is there anything wrong with shooting an ILS with a 6-8 knot tailwind??

NO


BUT... seems like many airports enjoy watching airplanes fly an ILS to mins with a nice tailwind or crosswind when other runways are open.

Boston.. Why do we shoot the 4R approach with a 10-15 knot tailwind.. Didn't they add the approach lights to 22L so we could use both when the wx got low?? Why do they insist on 4R when the winds are 100/110@20G30 when we could use 15??

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Im sure its just to mess with you.

 

[501261]

One thing you have to remember about PDK is that there are only 4250’ of runway available after glidesope!

I remember some years back coming in there one night as a newly minted JetStar Captain, same scenario, ILS, wet, little tailwind, and I was trying to get a “squeaker” for the new boss. Well, I got lucky, I used every d@mn inch of that runway, but not one more. I could have very easily been unlucky that night!

 

[Gulfstream 200]

absolutly.

get visual, get down a bit and put it right on...

not the runway to "work" a landing, especially when wet or a slight tailwind!

 

[sydeseet]

I am fairly certain that PDK has only one operating ILS, therefore, a tailwind is a fact of life sometimes. Anyone who has flown the crossing runway (I forget the layout) VOR circle to land can attest that sometimes a tailwind is the best option. Like it has been said; not ideal but a fact of life.

 

[sonicyouth]

Like Gulfstream 200 said:

"get visual, get down a bit and put it right on...

not the runway to "work" a landing, especially when wet or a slight tailwind!"


I couldn't agree with you more. Thursday night they were doing VOR 27 circle to 34 (3996') A few minutes before we were going to divert to FTY, they switched to ILS 20L (with a tailwind.) I may have requested VOR 27 circle 2R (landing same runway, just opposite direction with a headwind) had I not been equipped with thrust reversers that night. My experience is that the hydroplaning is not as bad going that direction.

About two weeks ago, one of those two-seat military jet trainers had an excursion of the end of 2R (dry runway), but as far as I know, most all excursions in the past two years have been doing the ILS 20L with a wet runway. This includes the Flight Options Diamondjet (I know the passenger who was on this one!) and one of Southern Company's Lear 45s.

 

[rettofly]

Boston.. Why do we shoot the 4R approach with a 10-15 knot tailwind.. Didn't they add the approach lights to 22L so we could use both when the wx got low?? Why do they insist on 4R when the winds are 100/110@20G30 when we could use 15??

Oh the memories!

DA for 22L is kind of high for REALLY bad days (used to be 420). I think the pref for 4R over 15R is based on noise footprint over high density part of town.

 

[T-Gates]

PDK doesn't have too many options when the winds get too strong, they run the VOR 34 circle 2R, that gets pretty hairy during peak times there. I'm sure DeKalb County would love to extend the runway or get another IAP, but all the dam n "Neigbors of PDK" hate the airport and want to see it disappear.

 

[sabreliner]

One thing they could do is groove the darn runway. That helps a lot.

 

[bart]

Unfortunately, an ILS to 2R will probably never happen for two reasons:

1) Hartsfield

2) Obstacle Clearance

Next time you take off from 20L, look straight ahead, I do not think they could get proper clearance from that tower farm, and if they did, it would screw up traffic flow for the north side of Hartsfield.

I would recommend they fix the touchdown zone on 20L so you have the full runway and groove it. I believe there are plans to work on that runway once the taxiways are fixed, but of course the a--holes that live around the airport want that nixed, saying 747s will start landing there.